Hello friends,

It is a beautiful sunny very cold winter day. I have just returned from church. Franklin and Amy were there with me. I needed to go today,for many reasons.First of all to say thank you to God, for not allowing Harry to suffer any longer. Second to ask God to give each of us minute by minute peace to face the time ahead without him.

Thanks to each of you for the Prayers, we knew they were there,else we would have fallen down, and in 21 days,we each remained on our feet, even tho we felt like we were falling down a bottomless shaft.We recieved between 5 and
6 Hundred friends on Thursday before the funeral service. Harry would have been thrilled. He loved visiting at the funeral homes, he said that and a wedding is the only time that everybody gets together.We can all agree on that.
Thank you for your prayers,friendship and love ,we will need them even more in the days ahead. Each of us are blessed to have been a part of Harrys life. Each in our own special way. I am asking Wes to post this and then to close the blog.
Me and my family pray blessings on you and your loved ones, may God shower each of you with which ever blessing you are in need of. just as he is doing for us.

We love each of you. Barbara,Amy, Wes, Franklin, Marisa, Grayson., Beth, Anne , Nick
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Thank you all for your acts of love and kindness during all of this. We really appreciate the prayers, calls, cards, comments on the blog (Harry really enjoyed those), food and everything else that you all have done. We love each and everyone of you. GOD bless you.

The following will be in Thursday's Cleveland Daily Banner.


Harry Elmore, aged 70 died on Tuesday, December 2nd after a short battle with cancer. He died as a result of a blood clot

Harry was a Christian, a wonderful husband, brother, father, father in law and grandfather.
He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Wilson. They would have been married 50 years on Sunday Feb. 1, 2009. His devoted family are Franklin, Marisa, Grayson, Beth, Anne, Nicky , Amy and Wes. Harry was the youngest of 5 boys. He was preceded in death by his parents Ben and Irma Elmore and eldest brother Jim. Surviving brothers are Benny, Bill and Bob

Harry had a long and happy career in the Candy Business. His Great love was all sports, especially Football. He was part of four generations of Elmore football players at Bradley High School. He was inducted into the “Old Timers Hall of Fame” along with Rusty Clayton. They were known as the touchdown twins at Bradley. He also loved to tell that he pitched softball for North Cleveland Baptist Church. When he was 50 and got knocked off of the mound, he hung up the glove and spikes. He put on the walking shoes and loved going to the YMCA where he walked with his special friend, Joe Higgins. At the end of a 3 to 5 mile walk, he loved to visit with his special “Y buddies” as he called them. He enjoyed his conversations about sports and politics.

A fun memory of his was taking his push lawn mower to Arnold School, along with friend Ronald Rogers, and mowing the playground for the beginning of the little league football in the early 1960’s.

Harry was a thirty year member of North Cleveland Baptist Church. He was thrilled to have pulled the plow to break ground for the new educational building.

Harry was a very happy man who loved life and his family and friends. All who knew him were left with a “laid back feeling”

Pallbearers are Franklin Elmore, Grayson Elmore, Wes Hicks, Rusty Clayton, Ronald Rogers, Tommy Pierce and Honorary Nicky Aronica

The Family requests that in his honor any acts of Love be made to the North Cleveland Baptist Church Building Fund.

Thank you for your prayers during this time.

Visitation will be on Thursday December 4, 2008 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

The funeral ceremony will be at 7:30 pm (following the visitation)


Ralph Buckner Funeral Home & Crematory
3000 Commerce Dr NE
Cleveland, TN 37311
(423) 472-1152


The grave side will be on Friday morning at 11:00 am at Hill Crest cemetery.

The family requests that in his honor any acts of love be made to the North Cleveland Baptist church Building Fund.

Tuesday, Dececember 2, 2008

It is with much regret that we must tell you that Harry, Dad, Grandpa, Papa died today at 3:57 pm at Bradley Memorial Hospital in Cleveland. His blood clots proved to simply be too much as one broke loose and traveled to his heart. The ER physicians did all that they could. Barb, Frank, Amy , Wes and Marisa were all with him. Beth arrived shortly after from Atlanta, Daddy, had asked Frank to tell me to come and asked “is she out of court”… I was in court with Anne for a speeding ticket in Atlanta. All who knew Harry know that he would not want to be bothered with suffering (nor would any of us want that for a man who was so strong in this life), so in the end our most Gracious God called our Husband, Father, Father-in-Law, Grandpa and Papa home where tonight he rests with our savior. Although I did not make it before Daddy passed, I feel honored to have sat with Mother until they took him away. Mother is doing well-would not we all guess as much-! but she is very sad as she has been with Harry since she was 17. I think most of us have tried to remain positive saying that irregardless of the outcome, we as a family, have been incredibly blessed. We have had so much. Our prayer tonight is that each of you are equally as blessed and we thank all of you for YOUR LOVE shown towards us. All of our lives are richer for having loved Harry. Funeral arrangements are on Thursday at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home in Cleveland. Posted by Beth Elmore-Aronica

ps - The family requests that in his honor any acts of love be made to the North Cleveland Baptist church Building Fund.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Hello family and friends,

Hoping you all had a nice Thanksgiving. Our family was together and that was a blessing. As you know, dad is home. He has been a trooper with his twice daily shots. Hopefully his blood levels are where they need to be and we can stop those. He does have an appointment on Tuesday with Dr. Nagel, Oncologist. Please keep dad and all of us in your prayers on Tuesday.

Thanks for the continued calls, prayers and cards. You are all such a blessing to us.

The Family

Home, Bed, Shower and Your own Clothes will change your thoughts. Harry is doing good, most of the drugs that he was so full of when we came home have worn off and his appetite is returning, so is his good disposition. He also has a new addiction.. GREEN GRAPES,which Beth hooked him up with.
Thanksgiving day was a real blessing. Franklin and Marisa did it all at their house, the food was great, and we all were thrilled to have real food and not hospital food. THERE IS A REAL DIFFERENCE....Franklin,took his dads place with a special prayer and there was not a dry eye in the house.I told the family it is o.k. to cry. we have all been thru a lot, so tears are good. TEARS do have their place.We cried and moved right on to a wonderful day.
Beth and the children returned to Hotlanta today,and Amy and I got busy decorating our yards, I think we inspired the neighbors because everyone has some kind of lite on tonight. Harry and I have ONE HUGE REINDEER WITH WHITE LITES,,I think it is supposed to be Rudolph,,but all our friends call it the ELMORE BIG MOOSE..that works for us. The wreath is on the door, and we are good to go.that will be it for this year.
I have a date tomorrow at noon for a matinee to see the movie Australia. I so want to see that country,but neither Harry or I can make that flight. we have a 4 hour limit on a plane, after that we just go NUTS..soooooooooo,not going to Kangaroo country..My date is the handsomest guy in town. beautiful blue eyes, on the Presidents list with a 4.0 at King College in Bristol Tennessee.. Majoring in Sports Medicine..It is our grandson Grayson, all who see him will tell you that he is a carbon copy of Grandpa Harry,,,NOT BAD....
Harry has 3 ball games tomorrow, including the last of Phil Fulmer ...Go Vols, Beat Kentucky, However,Harrys new player is Julio Jones who plays for Alabama,He will be playing in the Iron Bowl.Harry got to see his last high school game last year, we were at the Beach in Alabama
, and Harry went to the game. ESPN was there along with 20.000 fans,,Harry one of the biggest soooo Go Julio.
I have one last thing that is almost too funny. Amy has a new title.NURSE AMY..Harry is getting 2 shots a day in his stomach for 5 days only, it is a special blood thinner,someone had to say that they could inject him before we could leave the hospital ..232 pound bench pressing FrankLin (presses 450)..said NOT ME..Amy said, if it will get us home I will do it,,and she did right then, all 116 pounds of her,we now know thatFranklin is exactly 2 of her.she injected dad and away they came wearing the backless gown, and hospital pants..talk about a getaway, Harry was a wee bit LOOPY,, POOR THING,,else he would not have left in the gown. they made it OUT before the hospital changed its mind....Amy is here at 9 in morn and 9 at nite..I am sure she is RETHINKING the living next door to mom and dad.WHAT A GOD THING ...she and Wes slept in the new house one night and left the next day with us to the emergency room..Franklin and Beth soon joined us. THANK YOU GOD FOR A WONDERFUL, LOVING FAMILY,,,AND WONDERFUL LOVING FRIENDS...I hope this has brought a smile to your day,most of the news has been such a downer and I have so enjoyed writing this while my mind is in a better place..We begin again with Doctors again on Monday,with round 2. Not sure yet what that will be. But when we know..so will you..WE LOVE EACH OF YOU. KEEP PRAYING. AND SOWILL WE...To be continued....Barbara xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo p.s I forgot.we know a good moving service, WES, he is still moving and moving and moving each day with a pickup truck full...he could be the next FRED SANFORD...GOODNITE

Praise the LORD, we are finally at home. we both had a good nites sleep in our own bed.home health will be here on FFriday to check on blood work and other issues that will need to be addressed in the days ahead.this is a time of adjustment for all of us. harry is struggling with emotion, and finds it difficult to talk with those that are close to him, which is very understandable. so for now, I ask that you hold the calls and visits for a short time. cards are great and so is e mail. of course THE BLOG..is for sure the best...We all need time to plan and absorb the last 2 weeks ,I know that you understand. Thanks for your love, and for the prayers. God is holding Harry and our family in His Hands and we are very aware of that, we are drawing our strength daily from Him. how else would we still be standing, we were in such a sudden down hill go,now we are looking forward to better day.s...We love each of you, each of you are special to us in your own special way..some new friends,and some lifetime friends..Hugs and kisses to each of you, and on this thanksgiving day,,,we return to you the blessings that you have been sending to us...Barbara and Harry.

Hello Family and Friends!

Well, we have our news. Dad does have lung cancer. Of course, we would have rather not had this news, but we are grateful that it is not liver and brain. We are also thankful that he got to check out (armed with many medications) and arrived home around 5 pm today.
No hospital thanksgiving-Praise the Lord! He has many follow up appointments with heart, liver and neuro over the next few weeks as well as an appointment with oncology. Part of our journey has ended and part has just begun. We ask for your continued prayers as we BEAT this cancer.

Our dad wants to thank you all for the prayers, calls, visits and cards. He, like us, has been lifted and carried by them each and every day.

We are THANKFUL for each of you. Enjoy Thanksgiving, love and kiss on your family and friends and have a Blessed Day.

All our Love,
The Family

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Hello Friends,
Thank you for the continued prayers and support-we continue to be uplifted and encouraged by them!

The second bronchoscopy was completed this morning. In the words of Dr. Engetti, “your dad did phenomenal with the procedure”. They were able to get lots of tissue this time and did pull some “abnormal cells”. That is all they would tell us today, that they are “abnormal”. They told us pathology would read them and give us results later this week. So, yes, we are still waiting on the lung biopsy, but as of now, dad is finished with procedures and his body can rest. He was quite groggy today after the procedure and just wanted to rest. He was pretty heavily sedated at his request (and who blames him!) Physical therapy has been ordered to get him up and walking. So now, we wait and see.

We too are catching a bit of rest for now.
Have a great evening!
The Family

Monday, November 24, 2008

Hello Friends,

After a long of day waiting (thanks for the visits), our roller coaster got some answers.

It appears the liver spots are excess fat in the liver. We say “Praise the LORD”.

The bone scan does not appear to show cancer.

The lungs – we are still unsure. They will do a second bronchoscopy Tuesday morning. Doctor Enjetti will have a pathologist beside him during the procedure to look at the cells. This should give an immediate answer.

Regarding the blood Clots – filter in place to catch any in the legs.

Regarding the CAT scan – appears to be from the stroke with no change.

Physical therapy has been ordered to get Dad up and walking.

So we are hoping that Dad is just a big ball of fat, ha.

For some humor from Barb. I myself am becoming a big ball of fat. I have learned to take the best food from the unclaimed food trays. We have been here so long that the servers tell us to help yourself. Love and Kisses Barb

Thanks for your continued prayers we are feeling them.

The Family

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Hello Friends,
Just a quick Sunday update! Dad rested and visited all day with family. We were there in shifts, so this helped pass the time for him. No tests today, just hanging out in the hospital. We begin again tomorrow with the doctors and hoping for a game plan.
Thank you again for all the kind words. Dad enjoyed reading the blogs today. Hopefully this week we will have some answers. Thanks for the prayers.
Love to all,
The Family

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Hello Friends!

Just a brief update. Today dad had a bone scan of his entire body to look for any concerns. Dad says, “Hey, why not since the rest of my body has been poked, prodded, biospsied and studied (ha)”. He mostly rested all day. We just hung out, visited and watched some football..Finally the VOLS won..dad was happy. Hopefully one more day of waiting and Monday we will know some results.

On a funny note, should you go to visit dad and not find him-Please ask before leaving the hospital where he is. He has changed rooms THREE times and we realize some of you have “not found him”. So sorry about this, but we have had to change rooms quickly on a few occasions. As of today, he is still in 7143! Thanks for all the love, hugs, notes, cards and support. We appreciate you.
The Family

Friday, November 21, 2008

Hello Friends,
Let us begin by thanking you for the uplifting prayers. Today has been a total rollercoaster, but we made it. As you know dad started out in CCU due to the complications from the liver biopsy. They continued to monitor his blood pressure and fortunately by 3 pm he was back in a room-out of CCU! Praise the Lord!
If you will also recall, we were assured we would know the results of the CAT scan and the liver biopsy today…NO results until Monday. Dad has been so patient and such a trooper. This is where your prayers have helped us all. Instead of crying, we have just laughed and rolled with the punches. The nursing staff was thrilled to have dad back on the 7th floor…yes..7th and he was also in room 7 in CCU…We like that perfect number!
So, we are there for the weekend, no tests scheduled, just recovery time from the liver biopsy soreness, still watching the clots and blood pressure and hanging out.
Dad is in good spirits and ready to watch football all weekend. He loves reading your comments and sends his thanks to everyone. Hopefully soon, he will be home updating his own blog.
Oh yeah, Dad is now in room 7143 at Erlanger.

Love and Thanks,
The Family

Hello Friends,
Once again, THANK you for the prayers, we have needed them and have felt them.
Today was not a good day. There were some complications from the liver biopsy and dad wound up in CCU (Cardiac Care Unit). However, they SUPPOSEDLY DID get abnormal tissue from the liver and did get the CAT scan completed. The negative is, once again, we were told it will be another day before we know if the brain is okay and what stage the cancer is. It appears that he will not be put on blood thinners and his treatment for the blood clots will be the filter placed in his abdomen. Our prayer is that in the next few days we get a diagnosis and a discharge to bring dad home for some rest. Dad is ready to come home. Please pray for comfort and peace for dad. The CCU does not allow visits. We pray he gets back into a room soon. Thank you for caring. The Family

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Hello Friends,
Thanks again from the bottom of our hearts for the calls, cards, prayers and concerns.
We truly have felt them. This journey has been an adventure. One week ago today it began and we have felt lifted by you all. Today was another long day of waiting with the assurance that tomorrow we will know the results of the biopsy. They have been honest that it is cancer and looks to be pretty scary. They have however, not told us the stage yet.
Dad will also have another CAT scan tomorrow to look at the spots on the brain. Our prayer is that the spots are gone and we are not dealing with cancer in the brain. If the brain looks good, then they will begin the blood thinners for the clots. Once that is going and under control, then we will look at treatment options. We all want to bring dad home soon so please pray that he gets “out of the closet”! That closet is getting a bit confining..ha!

We are very sad, but are trying to keep good spirits and find humor in things. We have been taking dad out each day and yesterday we maybe had him out too long. So today, he had to stay in bed all day…We said, ooops, sorry dad….(of course we had him out with the “stolen wheelchair” that we took to spin him around the hospital). We also laughed that it is pretty bad when you are giving people directions of how to get around the hospital. Oh yeah, we also discovered there is a channel that watches people enter the hospital so we watched that today for awhile…now that is what you call finding unique ways of entertaining yourself!!! He did have some visitors today and got to talk some football which always brings a smile.

Mom is doing great and feels your prayers. She is even wearing her “walking shoes” and doing quite well with all the walking in the hospital. She has even found an ex-military man who works in the hospital who sneaks and gets her diet cokes. We are finding that Harry is loved by all the female nurses and Barb is doing okay with the guys!
Thanks for letting us share our day and life with you. We love you all! Live life in the Minute!!!

The Family

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 8:50 pm

Hello Friends,

From the bottom of our hearts thank you for the prayers. We have felt them. Also thank you for the comments. Dad is loving reading them and they are lifting his spirits. The afternoon was better, we even ventured out in the hospital. The nurses are loving dad so we are in pretty good shape. We will touch base tomorrow and by the way Mom is being a trooper.

Thanks again.

Amy

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The test this morning verified there is a tumor blocking the upper lobe of the left lung. With the placement of the tumor it appears to be inoperable. A biopsy was done and we will not know the results for 1 to 2 days. At this time the only word we have is it appears the treatment will be radiation and chemo. They are still very concerned about his blood clots and the doctors are trying to make the best decision regarding blood thinners. Of course this is not the news we had hoped for but we are hoping for the best treatment available. As of today dad would just like family here, he may be ready for visitors in a few days. Thank you for all your concerns he loves reading the comments.

Hello Friends,
Thanks so much for the calls, kind words and prayers. We truly have felt them.
Today was challenging with more stops and starts, frustrations, yet some answers at the end of the day. The morning biopsy was stopped by the pulmonologist. After looking at the films of the lung, he saw that the tumor was not easy to reach via needle. Therefore he ordered a Bronchoscopy. This will take place Tuesday morning, placing a tube and scope down the nose to pull out a sample of the lung tissue. This will hopefully give us some answers as to if cancer, the stage of cancer and some options.

A bubble test was also done this morning to make sure clots were not going to the brain via the heart. This was scary, but came back a good result. They stated that dad’s heart looked good. We were grateful for this. They are still a bit baffled as to where all the clots are coming from. Dr. Shamas finally told us “we are all consulting on this one”, admitting that it was complicated. Their concern over the clots has been first and the cancer second. It appears that after the MRI and the bubble study, they now feel they can proceed with the lung biopsy. After all this, and knowing that no more tests were to be ran today, we ask if dad could do some “walking”. Those of you Y buddies know dad walks everyday and loves it. Walking was a bit risky for the staff to agree to, but they agreed to a wheelchair. So, off we went for the afternoon. We took dad down and sat in the lobby. He was able to see people, eat some Chick Fil A and just be out of the room. This greatly lifted his spirits. We have laughed that his room is the size of a closet and with all of us in there, well, it has been interesting!

Once again, thank you so much for all the kindness. It is carrying us all and lifts dad’s spirits. We show him the comments and he loves them all. Well that’s all for today! Hopefully tomorrow, we will know some news!!
Thanks again,
The Family

Monday, November 17, 2008

Dads needle biopsy was cancelled this morning. Instead they have done
an echo of his heart and now the cardiologist (yes, yet another
specialist) must read it. He will then consult with the pulmonologist
to decide when to do the biopsy. Dad is going to shower and do some
walking around the floor. I am going home to Atlanta. Dad is very
thankful for all of your prayers, thoughts and concerns. He is able to see these posts most days due to laptops of family members. By Beth A

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sunday 8:35 pm -- Dad has just come out of a procedure to place a filter in his inferior vena cava (a large blood vessel found in the abdomen). It was done under anesthesia with a catheter. The purpose of the filter is TO BLOCK clots from travelling to his heart and or lungs. The family is with him now and he is in great spirits and is asking "to eat" always a good sign. He will have a needle biopsy tomorrow of his lung. Thanks for your continued prayers. The Family; posted by Beth Elmore Aronica


Sunday 8:00 pm - Surgery is over, Harry did fine, filter is in place for blood clots, we will update you more when he arrives back in the room.


Sunday morning: The doctors have decided that Harry needs the filter in his abdomen
just in case a blood clot break free. This is so the clot will not get to his lungs or heart.
The procedure will take place tonight at 8:00 pm. Please continue to pray.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

6:00 pm - UPDATE - YEA

During today more doctors & a neurologist came in. They have concluded that Harry had a stroke almost 1 month ago. They are concerned about the stroke but the main focus is still the cancer of the lungs and liver plus the blood clots in his body. They believe the spots on the brain are from the stroke and not cancer but they still have to verify this.

It will be Monday before anything else is done (another MRI or biopsy of the Lung).

We will know more after the biopsy on Monday.

Thanks for all your prayers, please continue to pray.

The Family

ps - Harry has enjoyed spending time with his family this weekend and is in good spirits.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Hi everyone.
6:00 pm - Harry is out of the MRI and is now in recovery, they said it would take 1 to 2 hours for him to wake up and then he can have supper.

It will probably be Saturday morning before we know the results.

Biopsy - probably be done on Saturday.

Earlier: 4:00 pm and they are taking Harry to get his MRI. Will keep you posted.

As soon as we have information we will post it. Please keep us in your prayers.

The Family

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Dad had many scans done, found more blood clots in his legs. An MRI will be done on Friday morning to look at the spot on his brain and to decide if it is bleeding or just a spot. They will also biopsy one of the spots, liver or lung to tell us the status of the cancer and the stage it is at. This will then give us some information with all pieces to the puzzle being put together. He has seen several doctors and nurses and we have been pleased with his care. Dad is in the best spirit he can be and we are all praying for healing and the best outcome. We have ask several churches to pray and appreciate all the kind words and calls we have already received. Please pray for healing and for strength and courage for dad.

Amy

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Hello All,

Dad has been feeling sick off and on for a couple of weeks. He went and saw his medical doctor, told of nausea and symptoms and a scan of his gall bladder was ordered. Dad's right arm had also been hurting and was swollen. The gall bladder scan showed spots on his liver. He was immediately sent to Cleveland Imaging, where Dr. Kyle saw another concern, a spot on his liver. We went back to his medical doctor, who informed us that "his lungs did not look good". He hinted to a mass and possible cancer. We were advised to head straight to the ER due to the blood clots in his arm (oh yeah, also found the blood clots in his arm). So, we headed off to Memorial Hospital ER, was admitted after a long wait, they did another scan and found a spot on his brain. Around 330 am on Thursday morning, dad was transferred and admitted to Erlanger Hospital.

Amy